The Macao SAR lies on the western side of the Pearl River estuary in southern China, bordering Zhuhai in Guangdong Province. It returned to Chinese sovereignty on 20 December 1999 and operates under 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Macao people administering Macao' and a high degree of autonomy. Macao is a world centre of tourism and leisure and a service platform for commercial co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Land reclamation has expanded its area from 11.6 km² in 1912 to about 33.4 km².
Under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the region enjoys a high degree of autonomy under 'One Country, Two Systems'. Its previous capitalist system and way of life remain unchanged for fifty years. Executive authority is exercised by the SAR government; the Chief Executive is the head of the region and is accountable to the Central People's Government and to the Macao SAR.
Head of the SAR
Chief Executive
Selected by the Chief Executive Election Committee and appointed by the Central People's Government for a five-year term
Executive organ
SAR government (Secretariats for Administration and Justice, Economy and Finance, Security, Social Affairs and Culture, Transport and Public Works, and their bureaux)
Legislature
Legislative Assembly
Exercises legislation, budget approval and oversight; members are returned by direct election, indirect election and appointment
Judiciary
Courts, with the Court of Final Appeal as the highest instance, and the Public Prosecutions Office
Executive advisory body
Executive Council
Assists the Chief Executive in policy-making and is presided over by the Chief Executive
Office holders verified as of October 2026, sourced from the Macao SAR Government Portal.
Performs its duties under the Constitution and the Basic Law and does not interfere in affairs the SAR administers on its own.
Focuses on labour rights, social services and 'patriots administering Macao'.
Focuses on women's rights, family education and social welfare.
Term：Since 20 December 2024
A law graduate of Peking University, he served as President of the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao SAR from 20 December 1999 to August 2024 and was appointed the sixth Chief Executive in October 2024, taking office on 20 December 2024.
Term：1999—2009
The first and second Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, in office from 20 December 1999 to 19 December 2009.
Official news channels of the region. Live headlines require an authorised public feed and are not generated or inferred here.
Government information service
Publishes official government news, the Official Gazette and the Macao Fact Sheet.
https://www.gcs.gov.mo/
Chinese-language daily
Founded on 15 August 1958; the highest-circulation Chinese daily in Macao.
https://www.macaodaily.com/
Public broadcaster
Provides Chinese- and Portuguese-language television and radio services.
https://www.tdm.com.mo/
Macao is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and is never treated as an independent country. Administrative boundaries follow officially published national maps.
Institutional information draws on the Macao SAR Government Portal and the public text of the Basic Law; office holders carry an as-of date. News entries are structured samples.